Chinese tour Tech, study care methods

Chinese government and education leaders toured Texas Tech Health Science Center's HealthNet facilities Friday, hoping to learn more about rural medicine and develop plans for trading information and personnel with the center.

The group, led by the vice chairwoman of the Science, Education and Health Committee of the Chinese Congress and former head of China's most prestigious university, was invited to Tech after a visit to China by Tech provost John Burns.

"They're here on a fact-finding mission," Burns said. "This is an important group. They represent the premier university in all of China. We're honored they chose Texas Tech as the only university they're visiting."

The group also made a stop in San Francisco and plans to head to the New York Stock Exchange today.

Speaking through a translator, Dr. David Smith, HSC president, explained the HealthNet program to the delegates Friday morning, noting similarities between the vastness of Texas and of China. The group from China nodded in understanding.

"There's a lot of interest, because of the vastness of China, in this type of technology for both health care and education," Smith said. "They have a lot of time and distance issues."

Both groups hope to trade knowledge and possibly exchange medical personnel, Smith said. Both Chinese doctors and West Texas physicians face the same rural issues, he said.

"We can learn about their medicine and non-traditional health care, like treating both mind and body," Smith said. "It's a challenge for us to become comfortable with that. They want to learn more about our prevention practices and medicine."

Tech has begun to build a presence in China, including a business student exchange program with employees from a Chinese power company.

"Texas Tech already has an international reputation," Smith said. "Part of being a great university today is being international."